Airtel Africa has confirmed that it is going ahead in June 2019 with its $750 million listing on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, as flagged up in January in our article. Owned by India’s Bharti Airtel, it is Africa’s second biggest mobile operator with operations in 14 countries and has 99m subscribers and 14.2m mobile money customers.
It said this week that it is aiming for a premium listing on the main market of the LSE, meaning it will float at least 25% of hits shares. It could offer up to 15% more shares through an overallotment option, according to a report in Financial Times which reports that the group says the exact number of shares to be sold and the indicative price range of the offer will be determined “in due course”.
Airtel will use the proceeds to cut the ratio of net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) to 2.5x, according to City AM. It also plans to expand data and mobile money services across Africa.
It is also considering a listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, according to reports.
Advisers and joint bookrunners appointed are JP Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Absa, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and the Standard Bank of Africa but the sole as its advisers. JP Morgan will be sole sponsor; BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and JPMorgan will also act as joint global co-ordinators.
The amount to be raised in the listing is down from the figure of $1bn given by Reuters on 28 May quoting Airtel, and the $1.25bn figure in January and February.
For the year to 31 March it posted revenue of more than $3bn and operating profit of $734m. For more background on the shareholders and earlier capital raises, read our earlier report.
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